Drapery suspension means

ABSTRACT

Suspension means for connecting a drapery to a plurality of drapery carriers slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod. The suspension means includes a plurality of pendant means for attaching to the drapery carrier, a tape means for affixing to the drapery, and a plurality of connecting means for connecting the plurality of pendant means to the tape means. The rotation of each of the pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod is restricted so that portions of the drapery are positioned substantially perpendicular to the drapery supporting rod to create a fold-type drapery.

' United States Patent Lawson Nov. 4, 1975 [54] DRAPERY SUSPENSION MEANS Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam [76] Inventor: Jack M. Lawson, P.O. Box 17367, Assistant ExaminerP- Kannan Memphis, Tenn 38117 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John R. Walker, III

22 Filed: un 27 1974 A l N J e 57 ABSTRACT 1 pp 483548 Suspension means for connecting a drapery to a plurality of drapery carriers slidably mounted to a drap- [52] US. Cl. 160/330; 160/348 ery Supporting rod. The suspension means includes a [51] Int. Cl. A47H 1/00 plurality of pendant means for attaching to the drap- [58] Field of Search 160/330, 345-348 cry carrier, a tape means for afiixing to the drapery, and a plurality of connecting means for connecting the plurality of pendant means to the tape means. The ro- Ref Cted tation of each of the pendant means relative to the erences drapery supporting rod is restricted so that portions of UNITED STATES PATENTS the drapery are positioned substantially perpendicular 2,718,923 9/1955 Moser 160/348 to the drapery supporting rod to create a fold-type 3,296,651 1/1967 Baker 160/348 drapery.

11 China, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov.4, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,916,975

FIG. I FIG. 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 7

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,916,975

DRAPERY SUSPENSION MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates generally to suspension means for hanging draperies and more specifically to suspension means for hanging fold-type draperies as opposed to the more conventional pleat-type draperies.

2. Description of the Prior Art Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents: Moser, U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,923; Southwell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,694; Scholer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,055; Truesdale, U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,738; Truesdale, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,613; Baker, U.S. Pat. 3,296,651; Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,713; and Barbour, U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,319. None of the above patents disclose or suggest the present invention.

Baker and Wilson disclose drapery suspension means for use with fold -type draperies in which the drapery is attached to a plurality of elongated folding plates which are hinged together in an end to end relation. In these prior suspension means, the folds in the drapery are determined by the length of the individual folding plates. Such suspension means are disadvantageous in that the fullness of the drapery is predetermined by the length of the individual folding plate and cannot readily accommodate varying drapery fabric widths. More specifically, in such suspension means if the drapery fabric is wider than the extended length of the plurality of folding plates, the excess fabric is required to be cut off.

Other prior art devices such as Scholer disclose drapery suspension means for use with fold-type draperies in which a take-up cord is passed through the upper. portion of a drapery causing the drapery to be automatically disposed in uniform arch-like folds when the drapery is opened or closed. Such suspension means are disadvantageous in that the cord systemintroduced the problem of tangling and twisting of the takeup cord and does not provide self-adjusting alternate spacing required for a variety of drapery heading styles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards overcoming'the problems and disadvantages in previous suspension means for hanging fold-type draperies; The concept of the present invention is to attach a drapery to a plurality of drapery carriers slidably mounted to a'drapery supporting rod in such a manner that portions of the drapery are at all times positioned substantially perpendicular to the drapery supporting rod to create a fold-type drapery. More specifically, the drapery suspension means of the present invention includes aplurality of pendant means attached to the-drapery carriers, a tape means affixed to the drapery, and a plurality of connecting means connecting the pendant meansto the tape means. The pendant means includes means for restricting the rotation of the pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod so that a portion of the drapery is at all times positioned substantially perpendicular to the drapery supporting rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional end view of a ceiling mounted drapery supporting rod showing a first embodiment of the suspension means of the present invention connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to the drapery supporting rod.

FIG. 2 is asectional view as taken on line IIII of FIG. 1 showing the suspension means of the present invention connecting the drapery to the drapery carrier.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modifiedform of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as taken on line IVIV of FIG. 2 showing a portion of the suspension means of the present invention and a portion of the drapery carrrer.

FIG. 5 is a sectional end view of a wall mounted drapery supportingrod showing a second embodiment of the suspension means of the present invention connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to the drapery supporting rod.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 5 showing a. portion of the suspension means of the present invention and a portion of the drapery carrrer.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the connecting means of the second embodiment of the suspension means of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view as taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1 showing the suspension means of the present invention attaching the drapery to three drapery carriers so that portions of the drapery are positioned substantially perpendicular to the draperysupporting rod to create a fold-type drapery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED V EMBODIMENT The drapery suspension means 11 of the present invention is for connecting a drapery 13 to a drapery carrier l5 slidably mounted to a typical drapery supporting rod 17. More specifically, the drapery suspension means 11 is for use in hanging a fold-type drapery 13 from the drapery supporting rod 17 as opposed to the more conventional pleat-type drapery. In general, the drapery suspension means 11 of the present invention includes a pendant means 19 for attaching to the drapery carrier 15, tape means 21 for affixing to the drapery l3, and connecting means 23 for connecting the pendant means l9 to the tape means 21.

In a first embodiment of the drapery suspension means 11 of the present invention (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8), the drapery supporting rod 17 is adapted to be mounted onto a ceiling 25. In this first embodiment, the pendant means 19 includes a plate-like body 27 having a lug member 29 adapted to be slidably received in the typical drapery carrier 15. The lug member 29 is connected to the plate-like body 27 by a neck portion 31 of the plate-like body 27.' The drapery carrier 15 includes a slot 33 perpendicular to the direction of travel of the drapery carrier 15 on the drapery supporting rod 17 for allowing the lug member 29 and neck portion 31 of the plate-like body to enter the drapery carrier 15. The drapery carrier 15 is preferably provided with shoulder portions 35 adjacent the lower end of the slot 33 to hold the lug member 29 and neck portion 31 in the drapery carrier 15. The neck portion 31 of the platelike body 27 is wider than the slot 33 as limited by the shoulder portions 35 to provide means to restrict the rotation of the pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod 17. The restricted rotation of the neck portion 31 of the pendant means 19 is shown in FIG. 4

3 with the extreme positions of the neck portion 31 shown in phantom lines.

The tape means 21 preferably includes a first outer portion 37 and a second outer portion 39 fixedly attached to the drapery 13 as by sewing or the like. Preferably, each first and second outer portions 37, 39 includes a plurality of apertures 41 for allowing the tape means 21 to be sewn to the drapery 13 without requiring the piercing of the tape means 21. The tape means 21 includes a midportion 43 spaced away from the drapery 13. Reinforcing members 45 are preferably provided between the midportion 43 and the drapery 13 to help maintain and support the midportion 43 in a spaced away position from the drapery 13. The midportion 43 preferably has a plurality of apertures 47 for allowing selective engagement therein by the connecting means 23 to connect the drapery 13 to the pendant means 19.

The connecting means 23 of the first embodiment preferably consists of a pair of spaced-apart projection members 49 fixedly mounted on the plate-like body 27 of the pendant means 19 and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of the apertures 47 of the tape means 21 for connecting the pendant means 19 to the tape means 21. The projection members 49 preferably havean enlarged head portion 51 for passing through the apertures 47 in the midportion 43 of the tape means 21 to substantially hold the pendant means 19 to the tape means 21.

It should be noted that a second pair of projection members 53 (only one of which is shown) may be fixedly attached to the plate-like body 27 on the opposite side from the first pair of projection members 49 for connecting a drapery liner 55 to the drapery carier 15.

In the second embodiment of the drapery suspension means 11 of the present invention, the drapery supporting rod 17 is attached to a wall 57 preferably by a bracket 58. The drapery carrier in this second embodiment is provided with a vertical bore 59 and the pendant means 19' is provided with a cylindrical neck portion 61 adapted to fit into the vertical bore 59 of the drapery carrier 15'. The drapery carrier 15' is provided with a vertical slot 63 to allow access to the vertical bore 59 by the cylindrical neck portion 61 of the pendant means 19'. The vertical slot 63 is preferably smaller in width than the diameter of the cylindrical neck portion 61 of the pendant means 19 to allow a snap-like fit of the cylindrical neck portion 61 into the vertical bore 59. The pendant means 19 is provided with a lug member 65 positioned on top of the cylindrical neck portion 61 to hold the cylindrical portion 61 in the vertical bore 59. The pendant means 19 includes a body portion 67 having an opening 69 therethrough. The drapery carrier 15 is provided with a horizontal bore 71 extending from the vertical bore 59 opposite the vertical slot 63. The pendant means 19 is provided with a protruding arm 73 for coacting with the horizontal bore 71 in the drapery carrier 15 to provide means to restrict the rotation of the pendant means 19 relative to the drapery supporting rod 17'. The horizontal bore 71 in the drapery carrier 15 is preferably outwardly tapered. The pendant means 19 may be provided with a second protruding arm 75 to coact with the vertical slot 63 to aid the protruding arm 73 in restricting the rotation of the pendant means 19 relative to the drapery supporting rod 17'. The restricted rotation of the pendant means 19' is shown in FIG. 6 with the extreme po- 4 sitions of the first and second protruding arms 73, shown in phantom lines.

The connecting means 23 in the second embodiment of the drapery suspension means 11' includes a pair of spacedapart prongs 77 and a hook-like member 79.

The tape means 21 of the second embodiment of the drapery suspension means 11 includes the first and second outer portions 37, 39 sewn to the drapery 13 through the apertures 41. In addition, the apertures 41 in at least the second outer portion 39 are elongated to allow access into the midportion 53 therethrough so that the pair of spacedapart prongs 77 of the connecting means 23 can be attached to the drapery 13 through the apertures 41 in the tape means 21. Preferably, the apertures 41 in the first outer portion 37 of the tape means 21 are also elongated to allow the pair of spaced-apart prongs 77 of the connecting means 23' to pass therethrough. The hook-like member 79 of the connecting means 23 is adapted to fit into the opening 69 in the body portion 67 of the pendant means 19 to attach the connecting means 23 to the pendant means 19 and thus connect the drapery 13 to the drapery carrier 15.

As thus constructed, either the first or second embodiment of the drapery suspension means 11 of the present invention allows the drapery 13 to be connected to the drapery carrier 15 slidably mounted to the drapery supporting rod 17 in such a manner that portions of the drapery are at all times positioned substantially perpendicular to the drapery supporting rod 17 to provide a fold-type drapery as opposed to the more conventional pleat-type drapery and allows the fullness of the drapery to be easily varied while accommodating varying widths of drapery fabric.

Also, it should be pointed out that the positioning of the connecting means 23, 23 onto the tape 21, 21 respectively in proper spaced-apart relationship may be accomplished in a manner well known to those skilled in the art or may be accomplished by means of marking by pleating apparatus shown in US. Pat. No. 3,822,034.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Drapery suspension means for connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising pendant means attaching to the drapery carrier, said pendant means including means coacting with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said means and connecting means connecting said pendant means to the drapery.

2. Drapery suspension means for connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising tape means including first and second outer portions affixed to the drapery and including a midportion spaced away from the drapery, said first and second outer portions of said tape means including a plurality of apertures for allowing said tape means to be sewn to the drapery without requiring the piercing of said tape means, said midportion of said tape means including reinforcing members for maintaining said midportion in a spaced away position from the drapery and including a plurality of apertures for allowing selective engagement therein by the draperygarrier for connecting supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising:

a. pendant means for attaching to the drapery carrier, said pendant means including means for coacting with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means;

b. tape means for attaching to the drapery; and

c. connecting means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.

4. The drapery suspension means of claim 3 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spacedapart projection members fixedly mounted on said pendant member and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.

5. The drapery suspension means of claim 3 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spacedapart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and includes a hooklike member for engagement with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.

6. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a drapery carrier slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carrier, said drapery 7. The combination of claim 6 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart projection members fixedly mounted on said pendant member and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.

8. The combination of claim 6 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and includes a hook-like member for engagement with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.

9. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a plurality of slotted drapery carriers slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carriers, said drapery suspension means comprising:

a. a plurality of pendant means attached to the plurality of drapery carriers of the drapery supporting rod, each of -said pendant means including a neck portion positioned in the slot of one of thedrapery "carriers, said neck portion being wider than the slot in the drapery carrier to coact with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod;

b. tape means attached to the drapery, said tape means having a plurality of apertures therein; and

c. a plurality of connecting means connecting said plurality of pendant means to said tape means, each of said connecting means including a pair of spaced-apart projection members fixedly mounted on each of said plurality of pendant means and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.

10. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a plurality of drapery carriers, each including an outwardly tapered horizontal bore and being slidably mounted to the drapery supporting rod, of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carriers, said drapery suspension means comprising:

a. a plurality of pendant means attached to the plurality of drapery carriers of the drapery supporting rod, each of said pendant means including a protruding arm positioned in the outwardly tapered horizontal bore of one of the drapery carriers to coact with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod;

b. tape means attached to the drapery, said tape means having a plurality of apertures therein; and

c. a plurality of connecting means connecting said plurality of pendant means to said tape means, each of said connecting means including a pair of spaced-apart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and including a hook-like member for engagement with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.

11. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a drapery carrier slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carrier, said drapery suspension means comprising:

a. pendant means for attachment to the drapery carrier of the drapery supporting rod, said pendant means including means for restricting the rotation of said drapery suspension means relative to'the drapery supporting rod;

b. tape means for attachment to thedrapery, said tape means including first and second outer portions affixed to the drapery and including a midportion spaced away from the drapery, said first and second outer portions of said tape means including a plurality of apertures for allowing said tape means to be sewn to the drapery without requiring the piercing of said tape means, said midportion of said tape means including reinforcing members for maintaining said midportion in a spaced away position from the drapery and including a plurality of apertures; and

c. connecting means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means, said connectingj'means including means for engagement with selective to said tape means. 

1. Drapery suspension means for connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising pendant means attaching to the drapery carrier, said pendant means including means coacting with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said means and connecting means connecting said pendant means to the drapery.
 2. Drapery suspension means for connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising tape means including first and second outer portions affixed to the drapery and including a midportion spaced away from the drapery, said first and second outer portions of said tape means including a plurality of apertures for allowing said tape means to be sewn to the drapery without requiring the piercing of said tape means, said midportion of said tape means including reinforcing members for maintaining said midportion in a spaced away position from the drapery and including a plurality of apertures for allowing selective engagement therein by the drapery carrier for connecting the drapery to the drapery carrier.
 3. Drapery suspension means for connecting a drapery to a drapery carrier slidably mounted to a drapery supporting rod, said drapery suspension means comprising: a. pendant means for attaching to the drapery carrier, said pendant means including means for coacting with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means; b. tape means for attaching to the drapery; and c. connecting means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.
 4. The drapery suspension means of claim 3 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart projection members fixedly mounted on said pendant member and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.
 5. The drapery suspension means of claim 3 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and includes a hook-like member for engagement with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.
 6. The combination with a drapery and a draperY supporting rod having a drapery carrier slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carrier, said drapery suspension means comprising: a. pendant means for attachment to the drapery carrier of the drapery supporting rod, said pendant means including means for coacting with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said drapery suspension means relative to the drapery supporting rod; b. tape means for attachment to the drapery; and c. connecting means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.
 7. The combination of claim 6 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart projection members fixedly mounted on said pendant member and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.
 8. The combination of claim 6 in which said tape means includes a plurality of apertures and in which said connecting means includes a pair of spaced-apart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and includes a hook-like member for enegagment with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.
 9. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a plurality of slotted drapery carriers slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carriers, said drapery suspension means comprising: a. a plurality of pendant means attached to the plurality of drapery carriers of the drapery supporting rod, each of said pendant means including a neck portion positioned in the slot of one of the drapery carriers, said neck portion being wider than the slot in the drapery carrier to coact with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod; b. tape means attached to the drapery, said tape means having a plurality of apertures therein; and c. a plurality of connecting means connecting said plurality of pendant means to said tape means, each of said connecting means including a pair of spaced-apart projection members fixedly mounted on each of said plurality of pendant means and extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means.
 10. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a plurality of drapery carriers, each including an outwardly tapered horizontal bore and being slidably mounted to the drapery supporting rod, of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carriers, said drapery suspension means comprising: a. a plurality of pendant means attached to the plurality of drapery carriers of the drapery supporting rod, each of said pendant means including a protruding arm positioned in the outwardly tapered horizontal bore of one of the drapery carriers to coact with the drapery carrier to restrict the rotation of said pendant means relative to the drapery supporting rod; b. tape means attached to the drapery, said tape means having a plurality of apertures therein; and c. a plurality of connecting means connecting said plurality of pendant means to said tape means, each of said connecting means including a pair of spaced-apart prongs for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means and including a hook-like member for engagement with said pendant means for connecting said connecting means to said pendant means.
 11. The combination with a drapery and a drapery supporting rod having a drapery carrier slidably mounted therein of drapery suspension means for attaching the drapery to the drapery carrier, said drapery suspension means comprisiNg: a. pendant means for attachment to the drapery carrier of the drapery supporting rod, said pendant means including means for restricting the rotation of said drapery suspension means relative to the drapery supporting rod; b. tape means for attachment to the drapery, said tape means including first and second outer portions affixed to the drapery and including a midportion spaced away from the drapery, said first and second outer portions of said tape means including a plurality of apertures for allowing said tape means to be sewn to the drapery without requiring the piercing of said tape means, said midportion of said tape means including reinforcing members for maintaining said midportion in a spaced away position from the drapery and including a plurality of apertures; and c. connecting means for connecting said pendant means to said tape means, said connecting means including means for engagement with selective ones of said apertures of said midportion of said tape means for connecting said connecting means to said tape means. 